: a synthetic platform for the development of fluorescent probes for diagnostic and theranostic applications

A Microenvironment-responsive small-molecule probe and application in quick acute myocardial infarction imaging

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients are at an elevated risk for life-threatening myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. Early-stage nonradioactive and noninvasive diagnosis of AMI is imperative for the subsequent disease treatment, yet it presents substantial challenges. After AMI, the myocardium typically exhibits elevated levels of peroxynitrite (ONOO-), constituting a distinct microenvironmental feature. In this context, the near-infrared imaging probe (BBEB) is employed to precisely delineate the boundaries of AMI lesions with a high level of sensitivity and specificity by monitoring endogenous ONOO-. This probe allows for the early detection of myocardial damage at cellular and animal levels, providing exceptional temporal and spatial resolution. Notably, BBEB enables visualization of ONOO- level alterations during AMI treatment incorporating antioxidant drugs. Overall, BBEB can rapidly and accurately visualize myocardial injury, particularly in the early stages, and can further facilitate antioxidant drug screening.

The development of logic gate-based fluorescent probes that respond to intracellular hydrogen peroxide and pH in tandem

Logic gate-based fluorescent probes are powerful tools for the discriminative sensing of multiple signaling molecules that are expressed in concert during the progression of many diseases such as inflammation, cancer, aging, and other disorders. To achieve logical sensing, multiple functional groups are introduced to the different substitution sites of a single fluorescent dye, which increases the complexity of chemical synthesis. Herein, we report a simple strategy that incorporates just one responsive unit into a hemicyanine dye achieving the logic gate-based sensing of two independent analytes. We introduce boronic acid to hemicyanine to quench the fluorescence, and in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), the fluorescence is recovered due to removal of the boronate. Interestingly, the subsequent decrease in pH turned the red fluorescence of hemicyanine to green emissive because of protonation of the phenolic alcohol. This unique feature of the probe enables us to construct "INHIBIT" and "AND" logical gates for the accurate measuring of intracellular H2O2 and acidic pH in tandem. This study offers insight into the simple construction of logic-gate based fluorescent probes for the tandem sensing of multiple analytes that are correlatively produced during disease progression.

Recent progress of near-infrared fluorescent probes in the determination of reactive oxygen species for disease diagnosis

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), a chemically defined group of reactive molecules derived from molecular oxygen, are involved in a variety of physiological and pathological processes, including immune defense, cellular metabolism, and other physiological processes. To access their detailed function in these processes, it is critical to establish rapid, accurate and in situ assays for these species in vivo. Among the potential assays, fluorescent probes are considered as the most promising candidate to monitor the biological ROS in vivo with great spatial and temporal resolution and are extensively used as an excellent tool in modern redox biology discovery. Recently, abundant fluorescent probes have been successively developed for in vitro or intracellular detection of ROS, but most of them could not be used for in vivo imaging due to their intrinsic shortcomings such as short emission wavelengths, phototoxicity and poor tissue penetration. Recent development of fluorescent ROS probes with near-infrared emission aim to address these concerns to develop practical assays. Herein, we review recent developments of ROS-sensitive near-infrared fluorescent probes, with an emphasis on the design, synthesis, characteristics of fluorescent probes, as well as their applications. We hope this review will aid the development of a new generation of efficient, sensitive and biocompatible fluorescent probes for in vivo ROS detection.

Selective FRET nano probe based on carbon dots and naphthalimide-isatin for the ratiometric detection of peroxynitrite in drug-induced liver injury

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is the most common cause for acute liver failure in the USA and Europe. However, most of DILI cases can recover or be prevented if treatment by the offending drug is discontinued. Recent research indicates that peroxynitrite (ONOO-) can be a potential indicator to diagnose DILI at an early stage. Therefore, the establishment of an assay to detect and track ONOO- in DILI cases is urgently needed. Here, a FRET-based ratiometric nano fluorescent probe CD-N-I was developed to detect ONOO- with high selectivity and excellent sensitivity. This probe consists of carbon dots and a naphthalimide-isatin peroxynitrite sensing system assembled based on electrostatic interactions. Using CD-N-I we were able to detect exogenous ONOO- in live cells and endogenous ONOO- in APAP-induced liver injury of HepG2 cells.

Novel Near-Infrared Fluorescence Probe for Bioimaging and Evaluating Superoxide Anion Fluctuations in Ferroptosis-Mediated Epilepsy

Ferroptosis is an iron-regulated, caspase-mediated pathway of cell death that is associated with the excessive aggregation of lipid-reactive oxygen species and is extensively involved in the evolution of many diseases, including epilepsy. The superoxide anion (O2•-), as the primary precursor of ROS, is closely related to ferroptosis-mediated epilepsy. Therefore, it is crucial to establish a highly effective and convenient method for the real-time dynamic monitoring of O2•- during the ferroptosis process in epilepsy for the diagnosis and therapy of ferroptosis-mediated epilepsy. Nevertheless, no probes for detecting O2•- in ferroptosis-mediated epilepsy have been reported. Herein, we systematically conceptualized and developed a novel near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence probe, NIR-FP, for accurately tracking the fluctuation of O2•- in ferroptosis-mediated epilepsy. The probe showed exceptional sensitivity and outstanding selectivity toward O2•-. In addition, the probe has been utilized effectively to bioimage and evaluate endogenous O2•- variations in three types of ferroptosis-mediated epilepsy models (the kainic acid-induced chronic epilepsy model, the pentylenetetrazole-induced acute epilepsy model, and the pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus model). The above applications illustrated that NIR-FP could serve as a reliable and suitable tool for guiding the accurate diagnosis and therapy of ferroptosis-mediated epilepsy.

Recent progress in the development of fluorescent probes for imaging pathological oxidative stress

Oxidative stress is closely related to the physiopathology of numerous diseases. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and reactive sulfur species (RSS) are direct participants and important biomarkers of oxidative stress. A comprehensive understanding of their changes can help us evaluate disease pathogenesis and progression and facilitate early diagnosis and drug development. In recent years, fluorescent probes have been developed for real-time monitoring of ROS, RNS and RSS levels in vitro and in vivo. In this review, conventional design strategies of fluorescent probes for ROS, RNS, and RSS detection are discussed from three aspects: fluorophores, linkers, and recognition groups. We introduce representative fluorescent probes for ROS, RNS, and RSS detection in cells, physiological/pathological processes (e.g., Inflammation, Drug Induced Organ Injury and Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury etc.), and specific diseases (e.g., neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, depression, diabetes and cancer, etc.). We then highlight the achievements, current challenges, and prospects for fluorescent probes in the pathophysiology of oxidative stress-related diseases.

Simultaneous detection of mitochondrial viscosity and peroxynitrite in livers from subjects with drug-induced fatty liver disease using a novel fluorescent probe

Drug-induced fatty liver disease (DIFLD) is a basic clinicopathological example of drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Some drugs can inhibit β-oxidation in hepatocyte mitochondria, leading to steatosis in the liver. Additionally, drug-induced inhibition of β-oxidation and the electron transport chain (ETC) can lead to increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as peroxynitrite (ONOO^-). Therefore, it is reasonable to suspect that compared to a healthy liver, viscosity and ONOO^- levels are elevated in livers during DIFLD. A novel, smart, dual-response fluorescent probe-Mito-VO-was designed and synthesized for the simultaneous detection of viscosity and ONOO^- content. This probe had a large emission shift of 293 nm and was capable of monitoring the viscosity of, and the ONOO^- content in, cell and animal models alike, either individually or simultaneously. For the first time, Mito-VO was successfully used to demonstrate the elevated viscosity and the amount of ONOO^- in livers from mice with DIFLD.

The design of small-molecule prodrugs and activatable phototherapeutics for cancer therapy

Cancer remains as one of the most significant health problems, with approximately 19 million people diagnosed worldwide each year. Chemotherapy is a routinely used method to treat cancer patients. However, current treatment options lack the appropriate selectivity for cancer cells, are prone to resistance mechanisms, and are plagued with dose-limiting toxicities. As such, researchers have devoted their attention to developing prodrug-based strategies that have the potential to overcome these limitations. This tutorial review highlights recently developed prodrug strategies for cancer therapy. Prodrug examples that provide an integrated diagnostic (fluorescent, photoacoustic, and magnetic resonance imaging) response, which are referred to as theranostics, are also discussed. Owing to the non-invasive nature of light (and X-rays), we have discussed external excitation prodrug strategies as well as examples of activatable photosensitizers that enhance the precision of photodynamic therapy/photothermal therapy. Activatable photosensitizers/photothermal agents can be seen as analogous to prodrugs, with their phototherapeutic properties at a specific wavelength activated in the presence of disease-related biomarkers. We discuss each design strategy and illustrate the importance of targeting biomarkers specific to the tumour microenvironment and biomarkers that are known to be overexpressed within cancer cells. Moreover, we discuss the advantages of each approach and highlight their inherent limitations. We hope in doing so, the reader will appreciate the current challenges and available opportunities in the field and inspire subsequent generations to pursue this crucial area of cancer research.

Stimuli-responsive prodrug of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac: self-immolative drug release with turn-on near-infrared fluorescence

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive near infrared (NIR) fluorogenic prodrug DCI-ROS is developed for the self-immolative release of diclofenac (DCF) with turn-on fluorescence. The non-toxic prodrug exhibited turn-on red fluorescence with endogenous ROS in cancer cells and inhibited COX-2 expression in the inflammation-induced macrophage cells. The prodrug strategy thus would be helpful for the controlled fluorogenic delivery of DCF for inflammatory diseases.

A specifically triggered turn-on fluorescent probe platform and its visual imaging of HClO in cells, arthritis and tumors

Understanding disease-related processes at the molecular level is of great importance for the prevention and treatment of diseases. However, due to the lack of effective analytical tools, it is challenging to gain insight into the relationships between a specific bioactive molecule and the associated disease. Herein, a rapid turn-on resorufin-based fluorescent probe platform utilizing the HClO-specific oxidative cleavage of the amide was constructed, allowing the visualization of HClO in vitro and in vivo. These probes could quickly respond to HClO (< 50 s) with high selectivity and sensitivity (12-153 nM). The probe REClO-6 had the fastest response (30 s) and the highest sensitivity (12 nM), and was successfully used for the imaging of endogenous and exogenous HClO in cells and zebrafish. Notably, it was also successfully applied to the imaging of HClO in mouse arthritis and solid tumors. This study provided a rapid imaging analysis tool, which would be used to investigate the relationship between HClO and the disease-related physiological processes.

Activatable Nanoprobe with Aggregation-Induced Dual Fluorescence and Photoacoustic Signal Enhancement for Tumor Precision Imaging and Radiotherapy

Owing to the high sensitivity and high spatial resolution, fluorescence (FL) imaging has been widely applied for visualizing biological processes. To gain insight into molecular events on deeper tissues, photoacoustic (PA) imaging with better deep-tissue imaging capability can be incorporated to provide complementary visualization and quantitative information on the pathological status. However, the development of activatable imaging probes to achieve both FL and PA signal amplification remains challenging because the enhancement of light absorption in PA imaging often caused the quenching of FL signal. Herein, we first developed a caspase-3 enzyme activatable nanoprobe of a nanogapped gold nanoparticle coated with AIE molecule INT20 and DEVD peptides (AuNNP@DEVD-INT20) for tumor FL and PA imaging and subsequent imaging-guided radiotherapy. The nanoprobe could interact with GSH and caspase-3 enzyme to liberate INT20 molecules, leading to AIE. Simultaneously, the in situ self-assembly of AuNPs was achieved through the cross-linking reaction between the sulfhydryl and the maleimide, resulting in ratiometric PA imaging in tumor. Remarkably, the nanoprobe can generate richful ROS for cancer radiotherapy under X-ray irradiation. The platform not only achieves the aggregation-induced FL and PA signal enhancement but also provides a general strategy for imaging of various biomarkers, eventually benefiting precise cancer therapy.

Near-infrared fluorescent probe for hydrogen sulfide: high-fidelity ferroptosis evaluation in vivo during stroke

Ferroptosis is closely associated with cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and ischemia-reperfusion injury and the detection of its pathological process is very important for early disease diagnosis. Fluorescence based sensing technologies have become excellent tools due to the real-time detection of cellular physiological or pathological processes. However, to date the detection of ferroptosis using reducing substances as markers has not been achieved since the reducing substances are not only present at extremely low concentrations during ferroptosis but also play a key role in the further development of ferroptosis. Significantly, sensors for reducing substances usually consume reducing substances, instigating a redox imbalance, which further aggravates the progression of ferroptosis. In this work, a H₂S triggered and H₂S releasing near-infrared fluorescent probe (HL-H₂S) was developed for the high-fidelity in situ imaging of ferroptosis. In the imaging process, HL-H₂S consumes H₂S and releases carbonyl sulfide, which is then catalyzed by carbonic anhydrase to produce H₂S. Importantly, this strategy does not intensify ferroptosis since it avoids disruption of the redox homeostasis. Furthermore, using erastin as an inducer for ferroptosis, the observed trends for Fe²⁺, MDA, and GSH, indicate that the introduction of the HL-H₂S probe does not exacerbate ferroptosis. In contrast, ferroptosis progression was significantly promoted when the release of H₂S from HL-H₂S was inhibited using AZ. These results indicate that the H₂S triggered and H₂S releasing fluorescent probe did not interfere with the progression of ferroptosis, thus enabling high-fidelity in situ imaging of ferroptosis.

A H₂S triggered and H₂S releasing near-infrared fluorescent probe (HL-H₂S) was developed. HL-H₂S does not interfere with the progression of ferroptosis by consuming H₂S, thus enabling high-fidelity in situ imaging of ferroptosis.

A dual lock-and-key two photon fluorescence probe in response to hydrogen peroxide and viscosity: Application in cellular imaging and inflammation therapy

Here, a dual lock-and-key fluorescence probe was developed for visualizing the inflammatory process in myocardial H9C2 cells. The probe possessed two-photon properties, viscosity sensitivity, and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) responsiveness. A thiocarbamate spacer between fluorophore and H₂O₂ responsive unit enabled the release of carbonyl sulfide (COS). This rapidly converts to the anti-inflammatory hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) by the ubiquitous enzyme carbon anhydrase. The probe displayed a dual response towards hydrogen peroxide and viscosity in vitro. No obvious fluorescence changes were observed towards either hydrogen peroxide or viscosity alone. In cellular experiments, the probe demonstrated good biocompatibility, low toxicity, and was shown responses towards exogenous and endogenous hydrogen peroxide under viscosity conditions. LPS induced cell inflammation showed it was able to effectively alleviate the inflammation-caused damage by releasing H₂S and eliminating H₂O₂. The new protocol demonstrates its promising to achieve diagnosis and treatment of cellular inflammatory process.

Rational design of an HClO-specific triggered self-immolative fluorescent turn-on sensor and its bioimaging applications

The development of a rapid and intuitive method for the detection of a specific small molecule biomarker is important for understanding the pathogenesis of relevant diseases. Described here is the design and evaluation of an HClO-specific triggered self-immolative fluorescent sensor (RESClO) based on the structure of an N-protected Resorufin dye. Due to the interrupted π-conjugated structure of the Resorufin dye, the free sensor showed very weak absorption and fluorescence. It can quickly complete the response to HClO (within 10 s) with high selectivity and sensitivity (LOD = 16.8 nM) in aqueous solution. The sensor can be made into test strips to quickly detect HClO in the environment by obvious changes in color and fluorescence. It was successfully used for bioimaging of exogenous and endogenous HClO in cells and zebra fish. More importantly, it can also be used for visual imaging of mouse arthritis models. Thus, sensor RESClO can provide a simple and promising visual analytical tool for the detection of HClO in the environment and the early diagnosis of HClO-mediated related diseases.

Low-dimensional nanomaterials for antibacterial applications

The excessive use of antibiotics has led to a rise in drug-resistant bacteria. These "superbugs" are continuously emerging and becoming increasingly harder to treat. As a result, new and effective treatment protocols that have minimal risks of generating drug-resistant bacteria are urgently required. Advanced nanomaterials are particularly promising due to their drug loading/releasing capabilities combined with their potential photodynamic/photothermal therapeutic properties. In this review, 0-dimensional, 1-dimensional, 2-dimensional, and 3-dimensional nanomaterial-based systems are comprehensively discussed for bacterial-based diagnostic and treatment applications. Since the use of these platforms as antibacterials is relatively new, this review will provide appropriate insight into their construction and applications. As such, we hope this review will inspire researchers to explore antibacterial-based nanomaterials with the aim of developing systems for clinical applications.

A novel borate fluorescent probe for rapid selective intracellular peroxynitrite imaging

Peroxynitrite (ONOO^-) is one of the species of reactive nitrogen (RNS), which plays an important role in antibacterial activity and signal transduction and other physiological and pathological processes. In this paper, based on the benzyl borate group, a new fluorescent probe capable of detecting ONOO^- with high selectivity and sensitivity is designed, and the possible mechanism of the interaction between probe and ONOO^- is proposed. The probe shows high fluorescence response to ONOO^- in a wide pH range (7.0-11.5). Moreover, the probe exhibit good permeability, and the content of ONOO^- in cancer cells and normal cells was successfully monitored.

Highly Sensitive Near-Infrared Imaging of Peroxynitrite Fluxes in Inflammation Progress

Inflammation is an important protection reaction in living organisms associated with many diseases. Since peroxynitrite (ONOO^-) is engaged in the inflammatory processes, illustrating the key nexus between ONOO^- and inflammation is significant. Due to the lack of sensitive ONOO^- in vivo detection methods, the research still remains at its infancy. Herein, a highly sensitive NIR fluorescence probe DDAO-PN for in vivo detection of ONOO^- in inflammation progress was reported. The probe responded to ONOO^- with significant NIR fluorescence enhancement at 657 nm (84-fold) within 30 s in solution. Intracellular imaging of exogenous ONOO^- with the probe demonstrated a 68-fold fluorescence increase (F/F₀). Impressively, the probe can in vivo detect ONOO^- fluxes in LPS-induced rear leg inflammation with a 4.0-fold fluorescence increase and LPS-induced peritonitis with an 8.0-fold fluorescence increase The remarkable fluorescence enhancement and quick response enabled real-time tracking of in vivo ONOO^- with a large signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio. These results clearly denoted that DDAO-PN was able to be a NIR fluorescence probe for in vivo detection and high-fidelity imaging of ONOO^- with high sensitivity and will boost the research of inflammation-related diseases.